Pregnancy and food poisoning

Food poisoning is an unpleasant experience
but most people recover without any ill effects. But there are particular
risks for pregnant women. These range from dehydration caused by vomiting
and/or diarrhoea through to birth defects and miscarriage.

The main risk is that of damage to
the unborn baby caused by bacteria which are responsible for food poisoning.
The worst case scenario is premature birth, stillbirth or miscarriage.

What causes food poisoning?

Bacteria, viruses or parasites cause
food poisoning but there are a few which are particularly problematic
for pregnant women. These include e
coli, salmonella, campylobacter and listeria.

These can all spread to the unborn
baby via the placenta where they will cause a range of health problems
at birth which include meningitis. In some cases they may lead to a
stillbirth.

But the worst is listeria. This is
one type of bacteria which pregnant women need to be aware of as it
is can cause both the mother and baby to become seriously ill. It is
also responsible for a series of complications which can result in long
term health problems in the baby. These can range from plain nasty through
to fatal.

The effect of food poisoning
on your pregnancy

If you are pregnant and you develop
food poisoning then in most cases, it will not cause any long term problems
for both you and your baby; however, you can expect it to be more unpleasant
than usual due to the fact that your body is already under pressure
as a result of your pregnancy.

So, look at reducing your risk of food
poisoning as much as possible. That means taking notice of food safety
and hygiene and being careful about the types of foods that you eat.
Avoid those foods which are a known risk for listeria.

Basically, the healthier you are the
better that is for your unborn baby.

The issue here is that the effects
of food poisoning are more likely to cause problems for your unborn
baby than for you. Your unborn baby is a greater risk due to it having
an underdeveloped immune system which makes it vulnerable to all types
of infections. This includes bacterial food poisoning.

Listeria and pregnancy

Listeria food poisoning or listeriosis
is caused by the consumption of foods which contain these bacteria.
Examples of these include soft cheese such as Camembert or Brie; blue
cheese; butter, pates; cooked meats such as ham or salami; and ready
meals which are found in the chiller cabinet in supermarkets.

Unwashed fruit, vegetables and salads
are also a factor as is unpasteurised milk. Undercooked meat and fish
are also a danger.

If you are pregnant then you will have
been advised to avoid these foods due to these risks. Choose hard cheeses
such as Cheddar, pasteurised milk, yoghurts and cottage cheese. Make
sure that you wash all salads, fruit and vegetables before you eat them.

Pregnant women are at greater risk
of listeriosis which may be due to a lowering of their immunity plus
changes to their metabolism. A weakened immune system is one of the
risk factors for food poisoning and other illnesses as it is less able
to fight the bacteria which cause these.

If you eat food which has been contaminated
by the listeria bacteria then these will pass into your intestine via
digestion. Once there they release toxins into the lining of the intestine
which results in an infection.

This infection causes symptoms such
as nausea, stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Listeria and the unborn baby

If a pregnant women contracts listeriosis
in the 14th week or onwards of her pregnancy then this is
likely to affect the health of the baby. This can only be detected via
a blood test or an ultrasound scan.

Unfortunately, babies can become infected
with listeriosis during birth if the bacteria are present within the
mother’s vagina. These symptoms may not be apparent at birth but can
develop later on. These can cause:

Jaundice

Pneumonia

Meningitis

What also needs to be taken into account
is that any infection, even if it is relatively mild, will deprive the
unborn baby of essential nutrients which are vital for its development.

One example of this is toxoplasmosis which is spread via contact with infected
cats (or their litter). If this spreads to the unborn baby then it is
likely to cause birth defects or even a miscarriage.

This is why it is advisable for pregnant
women to avoid any contact with cat litter or an infected animal during
their pregnancy.

Treatment for food poisoning during
pregnancy

If you are pregnant and suspect that
you developed food poisoning then ask your midwife or GP for advice.
Do this if you think your illness is caused by listeria bacteria as these can be dangerous during
pregnancy.

Your GP is required by law to notify
the authorities about any case of food poisoning.

You will need to rest during this time,
drink plenty of fluids and take an oral re-hydration powder if necessary.
This powder contains electrolytes which are vitamins, minerals and sugars,
essential for the everyday functioning of the body.

These powders are available as sachets
from your local chemist.

Your GP will perform a blood test and
if this shows that you have bacterial food poisoning then you will be
prescribed antibiotics to treat this. He or she will check that these
are safe for you to take during your pregnancy.

Preventing food poisoning during
pregnancy

There are a few steps you can take
to reduce your risk of food poisoning. These include only eating foods
which are safe to eat during pregnancy; washing your hands every time
you handle food; checking that food is cooked properly and using food
before its ‘use by’date.